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NHRC urges govt to address fasting Tiwari’s concerns

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has drawn the attention of the government to the deteriorating health condition of Bikas Tiwari, who has been staging hunger strike for the past 15 days demanding reforms in Gajendra Narayan Singh Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital in Saptari

After monitoring his health condition, the national rights watchdog on Wednesday asked the government to find an outlet through dialogue.

Tiwari is on a hunger strike with 26-point demand, mostly related to hygiene and management issues at the hospital. A team of the NHRC, which also monitored the hospital, found that the hospital was delivering services from a dilapidated building and it lacked running water, drinking water and sanitation facilities. Medical equipment at the hospital are also not up to the mark, according to the hospital. The commission, in a statement, has asked the government to look into the management as well as logistics of the hospital to provide quality service of the hospital.

“We would like to draw the attention of the government to the concerns of the protester, irrespective of forms of the protests, through dialogue,” read a statement signed by NHRC Spokesperson Mohna Ansari.

When Dr Govinda KC was staging fast-unto- death in the Capital demanding reforms in the medical education sector, media and civil society members mounted pressure on the government to address his concerns. Dr KC ended his strike on 22nd day.

Meanwhile, a group of civil society members also urged the government to save Tiwari’s life. CK Lal, Daman Nath Dhungana, Padma Ratna Tuladhar, Rita Sah, Vijay Kant Karna, Khagendra Sangraula, Rupa Jha, Digbijay Mishra, Dipendra Jha and Tula Narayan Sah have expressed their solidarity with Tiwari’s fight for reforms in the neglected hospital.

“It is the duty of the state to protect citizens’ life. The government and authorities concerned must act immediately,” reads a statement issued by the civil society members.

‘Form probe panel under Dr KC’

RAJBIRAJ: Chairman of Sadbhawana Party (Gajendrawadi) Bikash Tiwari, who has been staging a hunger strike for the past 15 days, has demanded the government form a high-level committee to investigate into irregularities at Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital. Tiwari has demanded the probe committee be formed under senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC.

Tiwari’s demands include reforms at the hospital, fill vacant positions for doctors and better services through upgradation of facilities. The hospital has the positions for 26 doctors, including 19 specialists. But only eight doctors are working at the 50-bed hospital. Consequently, it has been referring patients to other hospitals.

A team from the Eastern Regional Health Directorate visited the hospital on Tuesday to enquire about his demands and condition. Students continued their demonstrations in Rajbiraj on Wednesday to show their solidarity with Tiwari. They have urged the government to address his demands soon. (PR)

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